Leadership Practices And Approach In Organization

Answer :

Reflection

Task-2: Managing People

Introduction

Today, with increased globalization and increased challenges in the market, it is found that the organizations are looking for expansion plans. They need to expand their operations overseas by opening new branches in that locations. However, the top-level management will face difficulties in understanding the new culture, in identifying the needs of the local people, in adjusting for a new working environment, and also in making the employees work in the new environment (Hofsteded et al., 1990). 

The role of the Human Resources (HR) department and the leaders of the organization will be important as they need to guide these employees and suggest them on the roadmap through which they will be able to overcome the workplace challenges in the new working environment. The HR department for this purpose, needs to organize training workshops and seminars where they will not only demonstrate new learning skills and abilities but will also focus on the requirements of leadership skills in a given working environment (Gibb, 2002). 

Today, every employee needs to develop new skill-set along with the leadership skills for the purpose of performing multitasks in the organization. There are different leadership models and frameworks developed in the recent times that will assist these employees in learning them and thereby applying them in a given practical working environment (Gibb, 2002). Also, the organization needs to assess the needs of leadership skills 

Need for Leadership

Today, the organizations need leaders that can not only focus on the functional aspects of the organization but also on the strategic aspects of the organization. The role of the leaders is to provide the right direction to the employees so that they can work as per the expectations of the organization. 

Further, the important functions performed by the leader in the organization include - communicating the vision and mission of the organization to the employees, preparing the roadmap to achieve desired objectives of the organization, assisting the employees in their daily needs, motivating the employees so that they can continue working in the organization, overcome the workplace challenges by installing a positive working environment, managing conflicts among the employees and instead deploying team-based working approach in the organization, bridging the gap between the senior management and the ground-level staff, assisting the employees in receiving required resources, and thereby focusing on achieving desired objectives in a given working environment (Sarwar, 2013). 

There are different leadership styles designed as per the needs of the organization. Today, however, with increased challenges in the external environment and also focusing on the aspects of internal working environment, the leaders need to adapt to the transformational leadership style in the organization (Sarwar, 2013). It will not only help them motivate the employees but will also ensure completion of the assigned tasks within the given timeframe and as per the expectations of the organization. 

It is due to these reasons that this leadership style will help the leader to bridge the gaps, overcome the workplace challenges, ensure stability, and thereby assist the organization in achieving the required objectives in a given working environment. 

There are several examples of the organizations where through proper leadership styles and approach are able to achieve desired objectives in a given working environment. For example, in the case of Apple Inc., the role of Steve Jobs was important as he not only provided the right direction to the organization but also introduced the culture of research and innovations (Sarwar, 2013). 

It is due to this reason that Apple Inc. was able to develop innovative products and is able to succeed in the present working environment. Further, Steve Jobs also believed in managing people effectively in the organization. He not only trained them but also made them learn about new concepts through knowledge management (Sarwar, 2013). Today, Apple Inc. is one of the leading companies of the world. 

There are several other examples wherein the CEOs of the companies or the top-level management of the companies have enabled the organization to perform in the best possible way. They are guiding the employees, training them on the new working modules, focusing on the feedbacks of the customers, and finally achieving desired objectives in a given working environment (Devos, Tuytens, & Hulpia, 2014). They are also changing their strategies from time to time to adhere to the needs of changing trends and requirements of the customers.

Further, the role of the technologies is important in today's operational environment. Hence, the leaders need to deploy technological solutions for optimizing the business processes and subsequently manage the daily tasks in the organization. However, the HR department along with the respective leaders need to train the staff on operating these theological platforms so that they can change their working methods and work accordingly in a given direction.

Personal SWOT Analysis

SWOT analysis reflects to the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in a given working environment. The purpose of conducing SWOT analysis is to focus on the strengths, overcome the weaknesses, identify the areas of opportunity, and subsequently manage the threats in a given working environment. In this view, my personal strengths include - open and effective communication, group-based working approach, transformational leadership style, skills to manage the conflicts, and assisting the team-mates in completing the assigned tasks in a given working environment (Devos, Tuytens, & Hulpia, 2014). 

However, the weaknesses include - taking decisions quickly without carrying out proper analysis, over-estimating the needs and thereby working accordingly, not taking into consideration the feedbacks of other team-mates that later might lead to negative results, and lack of decision-skills in certain aspects (Devos, Tuytens, & Hulpia, 2014). It is important for me to focus on these aspects so that I can improve on them and work accordingly in a given direction. 

Further, the major opportunities that I can found in my career that will help me achieve desired career objectives include - working in a multinational corporation and gaining sufficient experience, choosing an entrepreneurship working approach from a long-term perspective, and thereby able to achieve my career needs in the future. 

However, there are certain threats that I need to overcome in the external environment that might create obstacles in my career. These include - challenges in the external environment, lack of business experience and exposure, lack of required leadership skills, lack of vision in the future, and also, not aware of the regular updates in the field of technology that might help in improving my working efficiency in the organization (Devos, Tuytens, & Hulpia, 2014).

I thereby need to overcome the weaknesses, deploy the key strengths, and subsequently achieve required objectives in a given operating environment. I also need to constantly update myself with latest technologies, new models of management, leadership frameworks and thereby work in a collaborative working approach in a given working environment (Backer, 2013).

Identification of Goals

The purpose of goals' formulation will help in deciding the right direction of working in the organization. It is important for me to first identify the major gaps in the processes, then formulate the goals to achieve desired objectives in a given environment. Today, the working environment has changed from different perspectives. Also, there are several departments of the organization that are linked with each other. 

Hence, it is important for me to consider each of these issues and accordingly focus on the aspects of achieving desired objectives in a given working environment. I also need to identify the major weaknesses in the given processes so that I can formulate the plans and goals for the future accordingly (Studebaker, 2015). The purpose of defining the goals is also to communicate the major objectives of the organization to the ground-level staff. 

It is the responsibility of the leader and the manager to inform the staff about the milestones to be achieved in the near future. Hence, there is a need of proper plan formulation through which these goals will be defined in the organization (Jones & George, 2016). Second, all the departments of the organization need to work in close collaboration with each other so that they can support during the time of need and also provide required assistance. 

There are several ways through which the goals can be defined in the organization. However, to overcome the workplace challenges and also to manage the daily routine activities, it is important that the goals defined are measurable and achievable in a given working environment. Further, the leader also needs to define strategies for the teams to avoid conflicts and instead work in cooperation with each other (Studebaker, 2015). 

It will help them achieve desired goals in a given working time in the organization. However, the leader or the manager can modify the strategies as and when required. They need to monitor the performance of the teams and also determine how these goals are achieved in a given working environment in the organization. They will need to deploy change management tactics over a given period to ensure that they achieve these goals as per the expectations of the organization.

Formulation of SMART Goals

SMART goals refer to specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timely. Hence, the goals formulation team needs to focus on these aspects while defining the goals for the organization. It is the responsibility of the senior-level management as well as the operations team to focus on the need of the organization and accordingly the goals for the future. 

The goals can be both short- and long-term in a given working environment but they need to be specific and clear for the working teams in the organization. Considering the present working scenario and also assuming the challenges of the external environment, the major goals that will be defined include - training the employees on the aspects of technological platforms and change management, increasing the net sales of the organization by 10% over a period of next one year, decreasing the employee turnover ratio by 4% during the next financial year, and planning to expand the operations of the organization to one new location (Sahut & Peris-Ortiz, 2014). 

Each of these goals defined are specific and relevant to the growth needs of the organization. Also, these goals are measurable as the HR team and the Operations team will be able to measure the employee turnover ratio, the total sales achieved in the next year, the level of efficiency generated among the employees after the introduction of technological platforms, and finally, opening of one new branch of the organization at an overseas location. 

It will thereby help the organization to overcome the challenges in the internal and external working environment and will guide the HR team and the Operations team toward the goals defined in the present working environment (Sahut & Peris-Ortiz, 2014). Also, these goals are timely-based as they need to be achieved within a period of one year. 

They are achievable given the fact that the teams need to be trained on new management theories and change management tactics; it will subsequently lead to increased optimization in the current working environment. Finally, these goals need to be monitored throughout a given period by the top-level management of the organization so that they can modify the strategies wherever required.

Application of Leadership Practices in the Organization

Today, with increased challenges of the external working environment, the need for leadership practices in the organization have increased. The leads need to manage the daily work routines, prepare the roadmap for the future, assist each other in the time of need, and thereby achieve desired objectives in a given work environment (Sahut & Peris-Ortiz, 2014). 

The role of the top-level management in the organization is thereby vital as they need to define specific leadership styles and practices in the present working environment. It will communicate the employees about the working approaches in the organization. Also, the middle-level managers will be communicating on the vision and mission of the organization (Daft, 2016); it will provide clear idea of the objectives of the organization to the ground-level staff in a given working environment. 

There are several other aspects of leadership that need to be deployed in a given working environment. These include - risk management, improving workplace environment, evaluating the plans and modifying them as and when required, supporting the staff in the new work environment, controlling the variables that can directly effect on the performance of the organization, remaining people-focused in all the practices, quality management, setting the directions of the future, installing trust of all the stakeholders of the organization on the working practices, self-awareness (Sahut & Peris-Ortiz, 2014). 

It will help the leaders to overcome the daily challenges and also manage the daily work routines in the most optimal way. There is a need to motivate the staff as well so that they can continue working in the organization; it will help the HR team to increase their job satisfaction levels in the present environment. 

This report has highlighted the aspects for which there is a need of proper leader and appropriate leadership style in the organization (Su, 2014). It is the responsibility of the top-level management to find a suitable leader and accordingly deploy leadership practices in the organization. It will help them achieve both short- and long-term goals in a given working environment.

Conclusion

This report has highlighted the personal reflection on the leadership practices in the organization. It has highlighted the need for leadership approach and the leadership working style in the organization. Today, the challenges have increased a lot in both the internal and external working environment. 

Hence, it is important for the leaders to define the road-map for the future. They need to instruct the employees for the given objectives and thereby carry out the daily work routines in the organization. However, there are risk issues in the organization such as - work conflicts among the employees, external threats to the organization, factors that can deteriorate the performance of the team and the organization, change management issues, communication gaps, problems at the workplace, and other such risk factors that can directly deteriorate the performance of the organization (Daft, 2016). 

It is the responsibility of the leaders and the senior-level management to overcome these challenges and ensure effective working environment for the organization. Further, there are new leadership styles and frameworks designed to achieve desired level of efficiency and productivity in the organization. 

The role of the leader is to lead the team from the front, guide them in the right direction, communication them about the tasks to be completed, and assist them in their every need. It will also help the employees to remain motivated and thereby achieve desired objectives in the organization. 

Further, the leaders along with the senior management team need to deploy performance assessment tools and techniques to evaluate the overall performance of the organization. They can thereby modify the strategies and techniques wherever required at a given workplace. Finally, they also need to train the team on the technological modules for the purpose of achieving desired efficiency in the organization. It will help the organization to achieve the required objectives in a given workplace environment. Even, the team can provide their feedback so that necessary changes can be made in the tactics of the organization.